Enhancing Board Communication from Within
Serving on an association board involves dedicating your time for the betterment of your community. As you aim to support the best interests of residents, enhancing your communication skills is vital. Clear communication is crucial not only with residents but also within the board. Strong internal communication fosters cooperation, mutual understanding, and stronger relationships, all essential for achieving communal goals. In the absence of effective communication, misunderstandings, frustration, and mistakes can arise.
As a board member, your daily interactions often involve both verbal and written communication. Clearly expressing objectives and their reasoning is key to enhancing intra-board communication. Top-performing boards often employ the following communication strategies:
Listening actively
Good listening requires understanding what fellow board members are communicating, regardless of their style. As people have varied communication methods, it is crucial to listen attentively, especially to those whose styles differ from yours. This helps focus on community issues rather than personal agendas. Every board member should feel respected and heard, so if attentiveness wanes, self-correction and active listening are necessary.
Speaking strategically
Effective verbal communication skills boost success in board interactions. Consider trying these techniques at your next meeting:
- Redirect questions to others for their input.
- Paraphrase others' points to confirm understanding.
- Encourage participation by inviting quieter members to speak.
- Offer different perspectives by playing the "devil’s advocate."
- Seek diverse opinions by asking for additional viewpoints or ideas.
- Aim for consensus by highlighting common agreements.
Highlighting communication strengths
Board members have different communication strengths, such as brevity, detail orientation, writing skills, or public speaking ability. By acknowledging and leveraging these strengths, you enhance collaboration and strengthen relationships, fostering a more engaged board.
Being proactive and prepared
Proactively gathering information is key to resolving issues effectively. Reacting without complete information is unproductive. Seek knowledge through research, consulting with your property management company, attending meetings, or liaising with committees to develop informed responses. By doing so, decision-making improves, saving time and enhancing board performance.
Practice patience
Understanding the workings of your association demands patience. New members must learn local, state, and federal laws, community documents, and the operations of your management company. Allow time for learning and patience within the team to address residents' needs effectively.
Understanding the role
Recognize the board as a business entity requiring efficient management. Enthusiasm to volunteer is commendable, but understanding the role's expectations and legal framework is crucial. Familiarize yourself with local, state, and federal laws, and governing documents to know when and where action is required.
Setting deadlines for decisions
When considering board matters, setting decision deadlines ensures progress. By establishing clear timelines and targets, projects stay on track and board members remain focused.
Documenting requests
When seeking input from other board members, document your requests beforehand. This preparation provides members time to consider their responses, while serving as a tangible reminder of the required input.
Demonstrating objectivity
Objectivity is among the most beneficial skills for board members. Evaluate all perspectives to benefit the community, avoiding personal agendas that can hinder decision-making.
Effective communication among board members enhances everything the board does. Strengthening these skills can lead to a more thriving community with less effort.
